FIRST, Lets strip back that question.
What does it mean to strip your hair?
Stripping your hair refers to removing too much of the natural oils from your scalp which can lead to issues in overall hair and scalp health. But let’s take a step back to understand hair and scalp health first.
What affects hair and scalp health?
Hair health is largely determined by scalp health. This is because the scalp provides the foundation for hair follicles which are responsible for hair growth. A healthy scalp ensures that hair follicles receive the necessary nutrients and blood flow for strong, healthy hair. The scalp also produces the natural oils that condition and protect hair to keep it moisturised. Hair quality can be negatively affected by fungal infections, dandruff and other issues that originate on the scalp so it is important to treat the scalp to get these under control.
Scalp health can be negatively affected when you strip away the natural oils, which in turn affects your hair health. Stripping your hair can occur with an improper cleansing regime, imbalanced scalp pH or when using known irritants in your haircare routine.
Do shampoo bars strip your hair?
Margaret River Made shampoo bars have been formulated to NOT strip your hair. This is largely due to ensuring that the pH is correct. We painstakingly pH test (and adjust if necessary) every single batch of shampoo bars we make so that they are the correct, healthy pH for your scalp, so they do not strip your hair of its natural oil. The scalp’s natural pH is typically around 4.5 to 5.5, however when you are using harsh chemicals and irritants, this may change and cause problems.
To restore your scalp pH, you can do an apple cider vinegar rinse.
Here's what YOU can do:
- Use good quality haircare products that do not contain strong chemicals or known irritants.
- No need to double wash! If you do it right the first time you don’t need to do it a second shampoo wash.
- Try to avoid washing your hair in hard water.
- Try an apple cider vinegar rinse to cleanse your scalp and remove the build up that may be affecting your scalp’s pH.
- Eat a balanced diet. Ensure that you’re getting enough protein, vitamins and minerals.
- Scalp massages! Not only do they feel good, but massage can also help stimulate blood circulation and stimulate hair follicles for healthy growth.
Understanding scalp pH and overall scalp health is important when considering if the products you are concerned that you may be stripping your hair. This is key for maintaining healthy hair growth and a healthy scalp.